Denise Schleis, age 68 of Wall Lake, IA, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Loring Hospital in Sac City, IA. Denise Mae Gray was born on January 7, 1957, to parents Dean and Gloria (Hebert) Gray in Denison, IA. She grew up with her four siblings on a farm outside of Deloit, IA. Denise attended school in Schleswig, IA, and graduated from Schleswig High School with the class of 1975.
On July 23, 1983, Denise married Robert Raymond Schleis. The couple met at a place called “It’ll Do” in Denison, IA, where Denise worked. They were blessed with three children, Jessica, Geoffrey, and Elizabeth, and made their home on a farm outside of Wall Lake. Denise was very much a part of the farming operation; she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and dug right in to work whenever she was needed. The whole family took part in the farming operation and continue to do so to this day.
Denise was a wonderful cook and loved to bake…her Blueberry Brickle and Kickapoo Bars were the BEST! She was a cook at several area nursing homes before she took a job as a cook for the WLVA School District. Denise worked for the school for twenty-seven years, retiring from East Sac Community School District in December 2021.
Denise enjoyed playing cards; this was something she and Robert liked doing on a regular basis with friends. The two of them also participated in couples bowling league for many years. Camping was something the whole family enjoyed doing together and over the years, they did quite a bit of. Denise and Robert also enjoyed going to different casinos in the area in their free time. She liked to crochet and collected garden gnomes.
Denise’s family meant the world to her and she loved spending time with them, her grandchildren especially. She was a kind soul who was always willing to help anyone and everyone. After Robert’s passing just a short year ago, she was left with a void in her heart for sure. They are now together again, comforted in God’s loving arms, surrounded by beauty and peace.
Denise is survived by her mother, Gloria Gray of Deloit, IA; children Jessica (Curtis) Riedell of Mundelein, IL, Geoffrey Schleis of Wall Lake, IA, and Elizabeth (Charlie) Leisinger of Wall Lake, IA; grandchildren Samantha (fiancé Austin) Riedell of Arthur, IA, Faith Riedell of Las Vegas, NV, Casjen Riedell of Mundelein, IL, and Margaret and Dennis Leisinger of Wall Lake, IA; great-grandchildren Raelynn and Georgia Riedell; brothers Channing (Lisa) Gray of Deloit, IA, and David (Cindy) Gray of Deloit, IA; sisters Debra Griffin of Deloit, IA, and Delores (Allen) Ryan of Correctionville, IA; sisters-in-law Eileen (Melvin) Naeve of Hesperia, CA, Ruth Ann Schleis of Ida Grove, IA, and Betty Schleis of GA; many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Schleis (February 7, 2024); father Dean Gray; parents-in-law Jerome and Margaret Schleis; brothers-in-law Joseph (Dorothy) Schleis, Donald Schleis, and Lawrence (Charlene) Schleis.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wall Lake, IA. Burial will be in the Wall Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the church. Farber & Otteman Funeral Home of Wall Lake has been entrusted to care for Denise and her family.
